It has 21 days to appeal against TfL’s decision and can continue to operate while any appeals are ongoing.

In a message to staff, its chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said: “It’s worth examining how we got here. The truth is that there is a high cost to a bad reputation.

“It really matters what people think of us,” he said.

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Petitioner Glenn Gathercole, from London, said he added his signature because: “Uber provides a much-needed alternative to minicabs and black cabs. It is more efficient, safer and economical than the alternatives.”

And Twitter user @Gabbysalaza_ said she was “annoyed” at the decision as Uber allowed her to get out of “uncomfy” situations if out at night.

Others have said that the ruling was within the company’s control.

“Uber knew the rules. TFL asked them to comply with the rules. Uber refused. What is TFL supposed to do?” said political commentator Owen Jones.

Danielle Louise‏ wrote on Twitter: “Londoners are literally more outraged at the loss of Uber than the fact women are being sexually assaulted in fake taxis.”

‘London is closed’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has given his full support to TfL’s decision.

“It would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners’ safety and security,” he said.

But Conservative MP and minister for London Greg Hands said, while the company must address safety concerns, Mr Khan was threatening to leave users “stranded” and put thousands out of work.

Uber has said the move “would show the world that, far from being open, London is closed to innovative companies”.

Analysis: From BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones

Throughout its short, tempestuous life, Uber has clashed with regulators around the world – and more often than not it has come out on top.

Its tactic has often been to arrive in a city, break a few rules, and then apologise when it’s rapped over the knuckles. Some regulators have backed down, others have run the company out of town.

In London, despite protests from angry taxi drivers, the company has had a relatively easy ride until now.

But a wave of bad publicity about its corporate culture, its lax attitude to checks on its drivers and its treatment of this freelance army seems to have spurred TfL into action.

Make no mistake, Uber will use every legal avenue to fight this ban. It will argue that consumers, in the shape of the millions of mainly young Londoners who rely on its service, will be seriously let down if it can no longer operate.

But the courts will have to balance that with the serious concerns about public safety raised by TfL.

Some 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers use the Uber app in London.

Wes Streeting, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Taxis, says the blame lies with Uber for not following the rules.

“You cannot have a situation where, however big the customer base or however big the driver base, an operator that’s providing a service like this in a city like ours can simply flout rules and regulations and on things as serious as criminal records checks for their own drivers, and this goes to the heart of passenger safety.”

Uber controversies

Chief executive Travis Kalanick, who helped found the company in 2009, resigned in July following a series of scandals and criticism of his management style

In June, 20 staff were sacked after a law firm investigated specific complaints made to the company about sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation for reporting problems

A few months later Uber announced it would offer English courses, financial advice and introduce an appeals panel for its UK workers after facing criticism over lack of support and rights for its drivers